Method and system for facilitating end-to-end quality of service in a wireless packet data system

Abstract

A method and system for facilitating end-to-end quality of service in a 3G packet data network. A packet-data session is set up between a mobile station and a packet-data network, via a base station and a packet data serving node (PDSN). The base station manages quality of service for the session as it passes over the air interface, and the PDSN manages quality of service for the session as it passes into the packet-data network. The PDSN translates between quality of service on the packet-data network and quality of service on the air interface, and the PDSN and base station communicate the quality of service information, so that both the base station and PDSN can work to set up consistent levels of quality of service on their respective links.

1. In a communications network of the type in which a first client communicates with a first server via a first link, a second server communicates with a second client via a second link, and the first server communicates with the second server via a third communications link, a method of managing quality of service for a communication between the first client and the second client, the method comprising:
 operating the first server to manage quality of service for the communication on the first link; 
 operating the second server to manage quality of service for the communication on the second link; and 
 operating the first server and the second server to match quality of service on the first link with quality of service on the second link. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating the first server and the second server to match quality of service on the first link with quality of service on the second link comprises:
 the second server mapping quality of service on the second link to corresponding quality of service on the first link; and 
 the second server sending to the first server via the third communications link an indication of the corresponding quality of service on the first link. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 operating the first server to set up the corresponding quality of service on the first link. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein mapping quality of service on the second link to corresponding quality of service on the first link comprises:
 using at least one stored translation table to identify the corresponding quality of service on the first link based on the quality of service on the second link. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating the first server and the second server to match quality of service on the first link with quality of service on the second link comprises:
 the first server sending to the second server via the third communications link an indication of quality of service on the first link; and 
 the second server mapping quality of service on the first link to corresponding quality of service on the second link. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein mapping quality of service on the first link to corresponding quality of service on the second link comprises:
 using at least one stored translation table to identify the corresponding quality of service on the second link based on the quality of service on the first link. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of facilitating establishment of end-to-end quality-of-service for a communication in a wireless telecommunications network, the communication being passed along a communication path comprising a mobile station, an air-interface, a base station, a packet data serving node, and a packet-switched network, the method comprising:
 passing in a Mobile IP vendor extension between the base station and the packet data serving node at least one quality-of-service parameter for the communication. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of facilitating establishment of end-to-end quality-of-service for a communication in a wireless telecommunications network, the communication being passed along a communication path comprising a mobile station, an air-interface, a base station, a packet data serving node, and a packet-switched network, the method comprising:
 passing between the base station and the packet data serving node at least one quality-of-service parameter for the communication, wherein the at least one quality-of-service parameter is indicative of quality of service for the air-interface portion of the communication path; and 
 operating the packet data serving node to map the at least one quality-of-service parameter into at least one corresponding quality-of-service parameter, the at least one corresponding quality-of-service parameter being indicative of quality-of-service for the packet-switched network portion of the communication path. 
 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 establishing radio-link layer communication over an air interface between a mobile station and a base station; 
 establishing IP layer communication between the mobile station and a network access server via the base station, the network access server providing connectivity with a packet-switched network, whereby the mobile station communicates IP packets to the network access server, and the network access server transmits the IP packets into the packet-switched network; operating the network access server to map between (i) air interface quality-of-service information and (ii) packet-switched network quality-of-service information; and 
 communicating air interface quality-of-service information between the base station and the network access server. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the base station to the network access server before the network access server performs the operating function. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the base station to the network access server in a Mobile-IP message. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the base station to the network access server in a Mobile-IP message comprises sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the base station to the network access server in a Mobile-IP vendor extension. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving the packet-switched network quality-of-service information at the network access server via the IP layer communication; and 
 sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the network access server to the base station, 
 wherein, operating the network access server to map between (i) air interface quality-of-service information and (ii) packet-switched network quality-of-service information comprises operating the network access server to translate the packet-switched network quality-of-service information to the air interface quality of service information. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the network access server to the base station in a Mobile-IP message. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the network access server to the base station in a Mobile-IP message comprises sending the air interface quality-of-service information from the network access server to the base station in a Mobile-IP vendor extension. 
     
     
       16. A method comprising:
 operating a PDSN to detect at least one Internet quality-of-service level for a mobile station; 
 operating the PDSN to set up the at least one Internet quality-of-service level for the mobile station; 
 operating the PDSN to translate the at least one Internet quality-of-service level into at least one corresponding air interface quality-of-service level; 
 sending the at least one air interface quality-of-service level from the PDSN to a base station; and 
 operating the base station to set up the at least one air interface quality-of-service level over an air interface between the base station and the mobile station. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein operating the base station to set up the at least one air interface quality-of-service level over an air interface between the base station and the mobile station comprises:
 operating the base station to validate the at least one air interface quality-of-service level; and 
 operating the base station to communicate with the mobile station over the air interface so as to set up the air interface quality-of-service level. 
 
     
     
       18. A packet data serving node for use in a wireless packet data system, the packet data serving node comprising:
 translation data mapping between air interface quality-of-service parameters and Internet quality-of-service parameters; and 
 a processor programmed to apply the translation data to map between air interface quality-of-service parameters and Internet quality-of-service parameters and to communicate air-interface quality-of-service information with a base station. 
 
     
     
       19. A system comprising:
 a base station in communication with a mobile station via an air interface; 
 the base station managing quality of service for communications with the mobile station via the air interface; 
 a packet data serving node providing connectivity with a packet-switched network; 
 the packet data serving node managing quality of service for communications with the mobile station via the packet-switched network; 
 the packet data serving node being communicatively coupled with the base station; and 
 the packet data serving node and base station being communicating quality of service information with each other so as to match (i) quality of service for communications with the mobile station via the first link with (ii) quality of service for communications with the mobile station via the packet-switched network.